Nontoxic Color: Ecos Paints

Paint seems to be something that is overlooked when considering toxicity in the home. I was completely dedicated to eliminate all chemical compounds in anything that I could control during our renovation this last year. Traditional paints, primers, stains, paint thinner, and varnishes are full of harmful chemicals, additives, and toxins.Here are some names to keep your eye on: formaldehyde, toluene, phthalates, APEOs, bisphenol, glycols, and solvents. And there are many more!The chemicals in paint fumes can cause both short- and long-term health effects. During the painting process, many experience symptoms such as watery eyes, headaches, nausea, dizziness and breathing problems. Vision problems, lung irritation, and throat irritation are in the line up too. Isn't that wild? If you are exposed to VOCs every day (which is present in paint) can also cause cancer as well as damage to the nervous system, liver, and kidneys.All of that to say, I did not want that easily avoidable risk in our home. My sweet friends from Branch Basics told me about Ecos Paints and I couldn't believe my eyes! For 35 years, they have helped people create healthier living environments with their premium quality, eco-friendly paints, stains and varnishes. They are completely non-toxic, contain no odor, zero VOCs, free of harsh chemicals + they are fully transparent about ingredients and have exceptional coverage. Not to mention, they are so helpful and lovely to work with!Their water-based products were uniquely formulated without the harsh chemicals found in conventional paints. Using a unique technology combining sustainable ingredients and a proprietary mixing process, their products deliver best-in-class appearance and enhanced durability - with no harsh fumes or odors. Yay!

Colors in Our Home

Child of Heaven is on our walls and the color of our kitchen cabinets is Desert Mirage. We could not be happier with the outcome and will be loyal customers for life!Excited to share with you another feature in our series Making A Home, where I've been able to share with you an update each week of the process of us renovating our home and all that we've included in it. For more on our home, check right here on the blog or follow along on my Instagram. xo

Finding Comfort

Over the past few years, decor & interiors have become something that we are really passionate about here at LSK. Decorating a home is such a special, personal process and results in a haven that is uniquely yours. How cool is that? It is fascinating to us how everyone's home is entirely different; a collection of one's past, things that they love and are drawn to, plus items and pieces that they see as inspiring, practical, beautiful, and comforting, or a combination of all of the above.We definitely believe that as people, we decorate our homes and make certain interior design choices with the goal of finding comfort. Consciously or not, we seek comfort in all areas of life; sometimes though it is just not possible, since the reality is that discomfort is a very normal part of life. However, our prayer is that all of our homes can be a little corner of comfort for us in this world. No matter what you call home, we pray that it is a place of comfort, rest, safety, and peace for you; a little sanctuary where you start your day and end your day, finding peace and hope no matter what sort of day you had or are having .When we discovered this chair from Bakarian Studio, we knew that it had to be a part of our home. The unique design, beautifully simple aesthetic, and comfort factor caught our attention immediately.  We had been searching for the right chair for this corner of our guest room and this one fits perfectly and finishes the room just the way that I hoped it would. My wish is that guests find comfort in this corner while staying at our home; curling up with a blanket to enjoy a cup of tea before bed, reading a book, or making a phone call. Thank you, Lauren, for this amazing addition to our home! Also, friends, be sure to follow Bakarian Studio on IG- their feed is so beautiful and inspiring.

OUTFIT DETAILS:

denim (c/o) | tee | jacket (c/o) | the chair (c/o)

images by felicia lasala

our bedding: serena and lily.

Our sweet friends and family in Dallas held the most special engagement party for Jase and I about three years ago, and there was one piece of advice that my best friend's mom imparted to me as a wife-to-be. I will never forget it. She said to always make your home a sanctuary and restful place for your husband; it should always be an atmosphere that brings peace and comfort after a long and possibly stressful work day.Decorating our first home together has been everything from a test of patience (it's a long process) to one of the most rewarding experiences. It was exciting yet nerve racking to create the vision for our home - it is such a big and permanent type of project that messing up or choosing the wrong piece is yikes! From trial and error, I have learned so much from what piece of furniture to start with in the design process to watching how my interior style has evolved over the last two years - it is fun to already become inspired for the interior of the next home in our future!Enter the master bedroom. This room can be a tough cookie, right? It has to be the perfect mix of masculine and feminine. I had to let go of my desire to have pretty, feminine Bella Notte pillows and a velvet throw. Exit any floral patterns. So I came to a conclusion: neutrals and white is a clean way to create comfort. It's cozy + the simple palette creates an easy foundation to add in different throw colors and patterns as the seasons change.I have my list of top favorite online interior shops, and my first stop is always Serena and Lily. It never fails to deliver and inspire. This last month, we decided to get a new set of bedding. There is truly nothing like it! Not to mention, we might have a slight obsession with this duvet cover - one is in our master; one is in the upstairs guest! We also can't live without puffy shams and pillows! Everyone wants a bed that feels like a cloud, right? See below for our entire set of bedding.

items c/o serena & lily 

gray malin.

As many of you know, decorating a house from start to finish takes much time and heart, but it is one of the most beautiful projects. Yes, it is a test of patience as it truly is a process, but it is the most rewarding finish! Jason and I were so thrilled to see everything in our home slowly come together, and when the main parts were all in place, it was time for the most enjoyable piece of the puzzle: the art. My first thought, Gray Malin.Welcome to the Kennedy Compound! Before decorating, we had a few words that we focused our interior inspiration around: neutral, cozy, personal, and beach-inspired + natural light was a must as we were on the house hunt.We added texture through fun wallpaper and rugs; our personality is exuded through the furniture pieces we picked out together as well as through our wedding snaps; we incorporated pops of color through art and fabrics and fresh flowers (a constant must in the Kennedy household!). I must add that we would have been lost in the process without our lovely and brilliant interior designer, Stephanie Jean, who is now a dear friend. She had the idea of creating a beautiful gallery wall centered around our Gray Malin with coordinating watercolor prints (by Urban Walls) surrounding it. We are obsessed!If you are like Jason and I, you know that it is so hard to choose a favorite in the overload of beauty on Gray Malin's site.Jason and I have such a love for chill beach environments, and we both felt so drawn to this piece as it reflected just that. The colors in the print were perfect for our design vision as well, which just happened to be a bonus! We have this piece hanging in our entry dining room, and it has truly formed the entire layout of the color scheme throughout the house. We love relaxed and pretty environments, which paralleled with wanting to create that in our home. We also love to travel, so this print and his brand truly represent our easygoing, yet jet-setting personalities!This is where I get all my work done, and somehow breaking from my emails to gaze  at the sunrise of Prada Marfa's Dawn brings relaxation to a long to-do.P.S. I thought I would share the best news for last. It is Gray's birthday today, and to celebrate, they are are offering his Prada collection at $99 for small prints.Scroll down to see other details of our home!

Home Life.

Decorating a house can feel like a chore sometimes + talk about an extreme test of patience! Agreed? The rug is on back order for a month? This table wasn't what I had in mind/this lamp is smaller than I measured/these drapes don't fit the vibe. So many decisions to be made...so many returns to add to the errand list... Isn't it worth every bit of the struggle, though? It truly is the most rewarding thing when you house starts coming together, especially when it begins to feel like a home.What I love about our house is it represents who we are as a couple – it’s unique to us. Jase and I have really enjoyed creating our home together and making it our own. Whether it’s the tufted sofa I bought for my first apartment or something from Jason’s childhood, we’ve been blending meaningful pieces from our lives before we met, and it's so fun and special!We love to shop together and get ideas for our new home. My mom turned me on to HomeGoods years ago and I’ve loved it ever since! We always find things that make our home feel so us – whether it is a unique piece or décor that complements our different styles. I love when you find a gem of a place with the perfect accessories, lamps (my favorite place to find them!), and kitchen pieces. Keep scrolling to see a few of our favorite spaces + I thought I would share a few fun tips I have incorporated into our design!my office.Tufted furniture makes any seating area comfortable and inviting, especially when you add a couple of over-sized throw pillows. I spend a lot of time blogging in my office, and Jason hangs out with me on the couch. When you’re moving in together for the first time, you want to be able to include pieces that are stylish without being overly feminine. I’ve had this couch for a few years – I actually had it made when I was living in my first apartment.  Jason and I have similar tastes and both love neutral tones. This couch ended up being a perfect fit for our new home, which I’m thrilled about because it reminds me of all the amazing times I had in that apartment!We love to incorporate little reminders of our lives together.  We love photography so there are photos all around our home – of our wedding, vacations with our families and our honeymoon. I found this perfect frame for one of our favorite wedding photos, which is great to have in the office so I can see it every day.I’ve had this fur rug for years and wasn’t sure if I wanted to keep it in our new home. When I found this giant, square shag rug at HomeGoods my first thought was that it would be perfect for layering – my number one favorite trend right now – and it makes my old fur rug just that much cuter!the dining roomIt’s important to have at least one room where you spend time together and enjoy each other, whether it’s just the two of us or a group of friends. For us, this place is the dining room because Jason and I are always having friends over, and I love cooking! I stick to neutral tones to complement the room’s aesthetic, but I love mixing it up when it comes to textures. Layer plates with different shades, accents and prints… not every setting has to look the same. Don’t be afraid to mix glassware of different heights and sizes – these hobnail glasses from HomeGoods are my favorite, I’m obsessed!Florals are a must for every area of the house, especially in the dining room. Always have a large vase available for when you’re having guests over – a massive arrangement in a beautiful vase is an easy way to make a statement. Bouquets like these hydrangeas (one of my favorite flowers!) instantly brighten up the room… but always make sure to buy extra so it looks fresh and full!We’ve blended our lives together (along with all our stuff!) and a bar cart is a fun, chic way to display some of our favorite things. This etched crystal decanter was a gift from our wedding, and Jason filled it with 1942 Tequila – his absolute favorite!the backyard and the fire pit.The fire pit area is really an extension of our home. It’s super important that your guests are comfortable, so we’ve outfitted the area with tons of plush pillows and soft throws. I recently bought a big basket at HomeGoods that I’ve filled up, so there is always extra!Poufs serve as great multifunctional piece because they are so portable. We found these cute chevron print ones for $39.99 a piece at HomeGoods. We tend to keep these inside the house, but they’re so light that we can easily tote them outside when we have company – it’s such a simple way to add more seating!Jason and I love the feel of soft, natural lighting and outdoor lanterns like these are the perfect way to bring in that romantic touch. Lanterns can get pretty expensive, so we go to HomeGoods to buy ones like these rugged teak lanterns. And don’t worry about lining them up perfectly, part of the fun is mixing and matching them around the yard.

interiors: romantic and white

Hey friends! I could not be more excited to be fully focused on decorating our home in a little over a week. I am counting down the days to make our house an extra cozy haven with pops of color in flowers and romantic details throughout. Decorating definitely takes time, and from what I have heard, it sounds like you are never fully done {so fun!}. I don't know about you guys, but when I have a project like this on hand, Pinterest is my go to for inspiration and direction. Scroll down to see the feel we are going for! Let me know your thoughts!